Atlas of American Diversity. Larry Hajime Shinagawa and Michael Jang. 1998. REF E184 A1 S575 1998
Provides information, data, and maps regarding population growth and projections, regional dispersion, state populations, major city concentrations, labor force participation, educational attainment, and more topics on African Americans, Asian Pacific Americans, US Latinos, American Indians, and European Americans.

Atlas of the 1990 Census. Mark T. Mattson. 1992. REF G1201 .E2 M3 1992
Includes population maps based on 1990 census data, including information specific to African American regional populations.

Historical and Cultural Atlas of African Americans. Molefi K. Asante & Mark T. Mattson. 1991. REF E185 .A8 1991
Long, informative essays on topics such as African origins, African resistance, reconstruction, and others, accompanied by maps, portraits, tables, and other illustrations. Includes important dates, bibliography, index.

We the People: An Atlas of America's Ethnic Diversity. James Paul Allen. PARKS Oversized: Ask at Circulation Desk; E184.A1 A479 1988
Focuses on racial and ethnic populations in the US; based on data from the 1970s and 1980s.

Afro-American Folk Culture: An Annotated Bibliography of Materials from North, Central, and South America, and the West Indies. John F. Szwed & Roger D. Abrahams. 1978. GR103 .S99x 1996.
Unique two volume set provides very full coverage for materials concerning cultural contributions of the African diaspora throughout the Americas.

Afro-American Reference: An Annotated Bibliography of Selected References. Nathaniel Davis. 1985. E185.A11 .D38x 1985.
Thorough but now dated source lists general reference sources, journal abstracts and indexes, bibliographies, guides for a wide variety of subjects. Particularly well-suited for retrospective or historical research.

Black Studies on Disc. (Library only)
This networked CD-ROM provides bibliographic citations to articles, book reviews, books, videos, and other materials pertaining to African American and African diaspora studies; other racial and ethnic minority groups are also covered. Includes an electronic version of the Index to Black Periodicals, as well as the library catalog from the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Focus is on the humanities, social sciences and the arts. Coverage for the periodical index is 1989 to the present; African American core scholarly journals and important leisure publications are the focus of the index.

Ethnic NewsWatch. (ISU only)
Unique and versatile source provides bibliographic citations and full-text articles from numerous African American newspapers, journals, and popular magazines; also includes publications from many other racial and ethnic minority groups. (Click here for a current list.) Also includes a publishers' directory, circulation figures, advertising rates, and histories of individual newspapers. In English and Spanish. Coverage is from 1995 to the present, though retrospective coverage of selected publications now dates back to 1985. Updated monthly.

In Black and White: A Guide to Magazine Articles, Newspaper Articles, and Books Concerning More than 15,000 Black Individuals and Groups. Mary M. Spradling. REF E185.96.A11 .S67 v 1-2.
Massive source provides citations to journal and newspaper articles and books by or about African Americans dating from circa 1940 to 1980.

Index to Afro-American Reference Resources. Rosemary M. Stevenson. 1988. E185.A11 .S74x 1988.

Index to Black Periodicals. Annual, 1950- . REF AI3 .In2211 1984 - .
Indispensable annual periodical index points to articles appearing in roughly 35 African American scholarly journals and well-known magazines. Includes book reviews. IBP has had many variations in its title and call number, but all years from 1950 to the present can be located in the general vicinity of the call number listed above. An electronic version of this index is included in Black Studies on Disc, 1989-present. (Library only)

International Index to Black Periodicals (IIBP) (ISU only)
Brand new periodical index provides citations, abstracts, and some full-text to important scholarly journals in African American and African diaspora studies. Full-text coverage dates currently from 1998-present, though retrospective citation indexing for some titles dates back to the early twentieth century. A good companion to the Index to Black Periodicals, which indexes core African American scholarly journals and leisure publications.

Kaiser Index to Black Resources, 1948-1986. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library. 1992. REF E185.A11 .K35x 1992.
Massive five-volume index from the renowned Schomburg Center points to "periodical literature, published articles and ephemera" on all aspects of the African American experience. Many items may be readily accessible in academic and larger public libraries, or through contacting the Schomburg Center itself.

SAGE Race Relations Abstracts (ISU only)
Now available online, via the ISU Library subscription to EBSCONet. International in scope, each issue includes bibliographical essays on specialized topics, and annotated abstracts for journal articles and books dealing with race relations. Important coverage of African American journals and scholarly topics. Broad subject index. From the Institute of Race Relations, London; Quarterly, 1975- . Online issues include vol. 24, no. 1, 1999 - present; back years are available in print in the Reference Collection under the following call number: REF HT1501 .S3x

Afro-American Poets since 1955. Trudier Harris & Thadious Davis. 1985. Dictionary of Literary Biography, v. 41. REF PS3 .D5x, v. 41.
Long bio-bibliographic essays surveying lives and works of over fifty important poets of the period; includes many photographs and illustrations.

Afro-American Women Writers, 1746-1933: An Anthology and Critical Guide. Ann Allen Shockley. 1988. PS508.N3 .A36 1988.

Afro-American Writers, 1940-1955. Trudier Harris. 1988. Dictionary of Literary Biography, v. 76. REF PS3 .D5x, v. 76.
Long bio-bibliographic essays surveying lives and works of twenty six important writers during this period; includes many photographs and illustrations. Also includes lengthy essays on the Hatch-Billops Collection, Howard University Library's Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, excerpts from the journal Phylon, and a list of books for further reading.

Afro-American Writers after 1955: Dramatists and Prose Writers : Dictionary of Literary Biography, v. 38. Thadious Davis & Trudier Harris. REF PS3 .D5x, v. 38.
Long bio-bibliographic essays surveying lives and works of thirty five important writers during this period; includes many photographs and illustrations. Good coverage of women authors. Also includes lengthy essays on the Black Arts movement, Black theatre, and a supplementary reading list.

Afro-American Writers Before the Harlem Renaissance. Trudier Harris. 1986. Dictionary of Literary Biography, v. 50. REF PS3 .D5x, v. 50. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, excerpts from the journal Phylon, and a list of books for further reading.

Bibliographical Guide to African-American Women Writers. Casper LeRoy Jordan, comp. 1993. REF PS153.N5 .A11 J67x 1993.
Comprehensive guide organized by author, points to periodical literature, anthologized material, bibliographies, books, and indexes. Spans twentieth century, though most citations date from 1960s to 1993. Excellent companion to Afro-American Women Writers, 1746-1933, Ann Allen Shockley, 1988.

Black Literature Criticism. James P. Draper, ed. 1992. REF PS153.N5 .B556 1992.
Three volumes of lengthy critical essays on major African, African American, and Caribbean authors; includes brief bibliographies.

Black Writers: A Selection of Sketches from Contemporary Authors. Linda Metzger. 1989. REF PS153.N5 .B567x 1989 Note: Second edition currently on order, 6/98
Biographical data, bibliographies accompany mostly medium-length (but occasionally quite long) entries on African, African American, and Caribbean writers, poets, playwrights, scholars, editors, and others. Selected from well-known Contemporary Authors series.

Contemporary African American Novelists: A Bio-Bibliographical Critical Sourcebook. Emmanuel S. Nelson, ed. REF PS374 .N4 C658 1999
Almost 80 African American novelists since the 1950's have been profiled in long, signed and authoritative articles. Each entry includes detailed biographical information, an analysis of major works and themes in the works of each novelist, critical reception, and both primary and secondary bibliographies. Authors profiled range from the very well-known (such as James Baldwin, Toni Cade Bambara, Alice Walker) to younger, emerging authors such as E. Lynn Harris, Jewell Parker Rhodes, Tina McElroy Ansa, and Sapphire. Also includes a general bibliography on the topic of African American novels and novelists.

Contemporary Black American Playwrights and their Plays: A Biographical Directory and Dramatic Index. Bernard L. Peterson, Jr. 1988. REF PS153.N5 .P43 1988.
Comprehensive source includes brief, paragraph-length biographical entries for more than 700 playwrights, with annotated listings of dramatic works and production dates. Appendix lists repositories for unpublished plays from 100 playwrights, and a thorough list of information sources for further research.

Early Black American Playwrights and Dramatic Writers: A Biographical Directory and Catalog of Plays, Films, and Broadcasting Scripts. Bernard L. Peterson, Jr. 1990. REF PS153.N5 .P44 1990.
Covering the 1920's through 1950, this comprehensive source includes brief, paragraph-length biographical entries for 218 playwrights, plus annotated listings of dramatic works and pertinent dates. Appendices include a useful chronology, a list of information sources, and more.

Harlem Renaissance and Beyond: Literary Biographies of 100 Black Women Writers, 1900-1945.
Unique and comprehensive source provides bio-bibliographical information on early twentieth-century women writers. Includes selected bibliographies of primary and secondary sources; some illustrations. Appendices sort authors by genre, geographical region, and date.

Selected Black American, African, and Caribbean Authors: A Bio- Bibliography. James A. Page. 1985. PS153.N5 A11 P33x 1985.

Black Americans in Autobiography: An Annotated Bibliography of Autobiographies and Autobiographical Books Written Since the Civil War. Russell C. Brignano. 1984. E185.96 .A11 B74x 1984.

Black Biography 1790-1950. R.K. Burkett, N.H. Burkett, & H.L. Gates, Jr., eds. 1991. 3 vols. REF E185.96 A11 B53x 1991.
Massive authoritative index points to entries from Black Biographical Dictionaries 1790-1950, on microfiche. Includes indexes for place of birth, occupation, religion, and gender.

Black Women in America. Darlene Clark Hine, ed. 2 vols. REF E185.86 B542 1993.
Authoritative encyclopedic source details biographical information on numerous prominent African American women, plus long essays on topics important to an understanding of African American women in the U.S. Includes bibliographies, illustrations.

Contemporary Black Biography. Michael L. LaBlanc, ed. 1992. REF E185.96 .C66.
Initial volume of ten volume set (currently on order) profiles 71 prominent individuals from various backgrounds, including Ralph Abernathy, Naomi Campbell, Youssou N'Dour, and Marcus Garvey, and presidents of various African nations. Photographs and brief select bibliographies included.

African American Culture. Sandra Adell, ed. REF E185 A2525 1996
Signed biographical profiles of famous 20th century African Americans in the arts or whose lives have had an impact on 20th century culture, ranging from Mumia Abu-Jamal to Lester Young. Entries range from one paragraph to one page in length; longer entries include select bibliographies for more information and, usually, a photo. Timeline of important cultural events is also included, as are broad profiles of important cultural movements, events, and creative works in literature, television, music, politics, film and drama, and art.

Encyclopedia of African-American Culture and History. Jack Salzman, David Lionel Smith and Cornel West, eds. 1996. REF E185 .E54 1996.
Authoritative signed essays profile individuals, regional histories, academic disciplines, and a fascinating range of cultural and historical topics. Roughly two-thirds of all entries in this indispensable five-volume set are biographical.

Facts on File Encyclopedia of Black Women in America. 1997. Darlene Clark Hine, ed. REF E185.96 F2 1997
Eleven volume series profiles prominent African American women throughout history. Each volume focuses on a particular area of achievement, such as Theater Arts and Entertainment, or Business and Professions. Includes many black and white photographs.

Notable Black American Men. Jessie Carney Smith, ed. 1999. REF E185.86 .N68 1999
Lengthy biographical profiles of 500 famous African American men, ranging from artists, sports figures, musicians, scientists, politicians, and many other occupations. Entries are signed, and include short bibliographies and, often, black and white photos.

Notable Black American Women. Jessie Carney Smith, ed. REF E185.96 N68 1992.
Massive, two volume authoritative source for biographical information on African American women from a wide variety of disciplines and accomplishments. Many illustrations; also includes access by "area of endeavor."

Oxford Companion to African American Literature. William L. Andrews, et al. REF PS153 N5 O96 1997
Encyclopedic guide to African American authors, critics, literary genres, important works, and literary criticism. Authoritative, signed essays.

Who's Who Among African Americans. Shirelle Phelps, ed. 10th ed., 1998-99. REF E185.96 .W521
Massive source provides brief biographical information and addresses for more than 20,000 prominent African Americans from various fields.

QBR (also known as the Quarterly Black Review of Books). PER RM PS153 N5 A11 B53x
Outstanding new publication provides book reviews, longer review articles, interviews with authors, and other items of interest.

Geneva Smitherman. REF PE3102 .N4 S65 2000
New revision of this collection of vocabulary and slang, some of which may be offensive to some patrons. Includes an introductory essay on "The Africanization of American English."

Dictionary of Afro-American Slavery. Randall M. Miller & John David Smith, eds. 1988. REF E441 .D53 1988.
Comprehensive alphabetic list and signed entries define terms, concepts, associations, and people important to an understanding of African American slavery in the U.S. Includes maps, tables, chronology, brief bibliographies.

Dictionary of American Negro Biography. Rayford W. Logan & Michael R. Winston. 1982. E185.96 .L6 1982

African American Culture. Sandra Adell, ed. REF E185 A2525 1996
Signed biographical profiles of illustrious African Americans in the arts or whose lives have had an impact on 20th century culture, ranging from Mumia Abu-Jamal to Lester Young. Entries range from one paragraph to one page in length; longer entries include select bibliographies for more information and, usually, a photo. Timeline of important cultural events is also included, as are broad profiles of important cultural movements, events, and creative works in literature, television, music, politics, film and drama, and art.

Black Elected Officials: A National Register. Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies Press. 21st ed., 1993. REF JK1924 .B62x 1993.
Names and addresses of African American elected officials at the federal, state, county, municipal, and school district levels, organized by state. Includes statistics, tables.

Black History Month Resource Book. 1993. Mary Ellen Snodgrass, ed. 1993. REF E184.7 .B53 1993 Note: Second edition currently on order, 6/98
Lists numerous ideas and activities for celebrating Black History Month, centering on broad themes such as art & architecture, biography, dance, science, and more. Entries indicate age/grade level, how-to procedures, and approximate cost for each activity; brief bibliographies often included. Particularly good for sharing with children and young adults or as introduction.

The Black Resource Guide. Ben Johnson. (Annual) REF E185.5 B565, 10th ed.
Address directory for various agencies, organizations, and services relating to African Americans, including businesses, the media, museums, church denomitations and organizations, and more.

Directory of African American Religious Bodies: A Compendium by the Howard University School of Divinity. Wardell J. Payne, ed. 2nd ed., 1995. REF BR563 .N4 D57 1995.
Addresses and brief background information are provided for African American religious bodies, African American organizations within predominantly white religious bodies, religious councils, ecumenical organizations, and more. Includes longer, signed essays giving historical overviews of African American religious traditions within the Baptist, Methodist, and Holiness/Pentecostal/Apostolic traditions.

Schomburg Center Guide to Black Literature from the Eighteenth Century to the Present. REF PS153.N5 S36x 1996
Dictionary list of authors, titles, literary characters, themes and topics important to an understanding of African American and African diaspora literature. Includes bibliographies, illustrations. Some films and directors also treated.

The African American Almanac. Kenneth Estell, ed. 1994. (formerly The Negro Almanac, E185.5 .N34). REF E185.5 .N341.
Massive source provides encyclopedic information on a variety of topics including Africans in America 1600-1900, civil rights, national organizations and addresses, law, politics, the family, science and medicine, and much more; includes many photographs.

African American Chronology. Alton Hornsby, Jr. & Deborah Gillan Straub. 1994. REF E185 .H62 1994.
Accessible and readable, includes paragraph-length chronological entries regarding African American history and events; many illustrations. Particularly good for young adults or as introduction.

African American Culture. Sandra Adell, ed. REF E185 A2525 1996
Signed biographical profiles of famous 20th century African Americans in the arts or whose lives have had an impact on 20th century culture, ranging from Mumia Abu-Jamal to Lester Young. Entries range from one paragraph to one page in length; longer entries include select bibliographies for more information and, usually, a photo. Timeline of important cultural events is also included, as are broad profiles of important cultural movements, events, and creative works in literature, television, music, politics, film and drama, and art.

Africana: The Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience. Kwame Anthony Appiah & Henry Louis Gates, Jr., eds. (REF DT14 A37435 1999)
Massive and lavishly illustrated encyclopedia on African and African diaspora civilization and history, unique for its thoroughly afrocentric approach to all topics. Longer entries are signed, and include brief references to other related articles in the encyclopedia. Includes an unannotated select bibliography, and world maps.

Black Firsts: 2,000 Years of Extraordinary Achievement. Jessie Carney Smith & Carrell Peterson Horton, eds. 1995. REF E185 .H543 1995.
Interesting two-volume chronology includes major sections on arts & entertainment, business, civil rights & protest, education, journalism, science & medicine, and more. Includes years 35 - 1993, keyword index, and chronological calendar of firsts.

Encarta Africana (Currently on order, 5/00)

Encyclopaedia Britannica Guide to Black History (ISU only)
Online multimedia encyclopedia includes biographical profiles of the most major literary figures and poets, and background articles on broad topics of interest, with particularly strong coverage of civil rights and music. Also includes annotated African American web links of interest. Contents are searchable only by chronology or by broad topic.

Encyclopedia of African-American Culture and History. 1996. Jack Salzman, David Lionel Smith and Cornel West, eds. 1996. REF E185 .E54 1996.
Authoritative signed essays profile individuals, regional histories, academic disciplines, and a fascinating range of cultural and historical topics. Roughly two-thirds of all entries in this indispensable five-volume set are biographical.

Encyclopedia of African-American Education. Faustine C. Jones-Wilson, et al., eds. 1996. REF LC2717 E53 1996
Authoritative signed entries describe important events, individuals, legislation, movements and institutions relevant to African American education issues. Many entries include bibliographies for further reading.

Encyclopedia of Black America. Augustus W. Low. 1981. E185 .E55.

Encyclopedia of African-American Civil Rights: From Emancipation to the Present. Charles D. Lowery & John R. Marszalek, eds. REF E185.61 E54 1992.
Comprehensive alphabetic list and signed entries define terms, concepts, publications, associations, and people important to an understanding of the civil rights era and African America. Includes selected bibliographies, some illustrations.

Muslim Almanac: A Reference Work on the History, Faith, Culture and Peoples of Islam. Azim A. Nanji, ed. 1996. REF BP40 .M83 1996.
Arranged by topic and by geographic region, authoritative signed essays discuss Islam and the diversity of Islamic beliefs, intellectual life, traditions, and more. African American Muslims, the Nation of Islam, and Sufism in the U.S. are also discussed within the broader context of global Islamic beliefs. Includes illustrations, glossary of terms, topical and general bibliographies, distribution of Muslim populations by nation/state, a chronology, and more.

Oxford Companion to African American Literature. William L. Andrews, et$ Encyclopedic guide to African American authors, critics, literary genres, important works, and literary criticism. Authoritative, signed essays.

Reference Library of Black America. Kenneth Estell, ed. REF E185 R44x, 1994
Five volume set provides a wealth of information on broad topics such as African American history, law and politics, education, women, art, business, the family, language, music, theater, film, and more. Includes bibliographies and illustrations.

Statistical Record of Black America. 4th ed., 1997. REF E185.5 .S83
Compendium of recent statistics relating to African American demographics.

U.S. Census Bureau
Current population statistics and estimates, plus numerous special reports, mapping services, publications, and information on topics such as housing, education, income, poverty, and race & ethnicity.